Letter and message receiver



(No Model.)

1. E. SHAW LETTER AND MESSAGE RECEIVER.

Patented Oct. 1

7 .ANDREW BJSMHAM.PHOTO-LITNlWASHINGTOMDQ securely fixed at any suitable or desired point NITE terns ISAAC E. SHAW, OF GLOVERDALE, CALIFORNIA.

LETTER AND MESSAGE RECEIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iPatent No. 547,187, dated October 1, 1895.

A plication filed June 28, 1895- T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAO E. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cloverdale, county of Sonoma, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Letter and Message Receivers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for receiving letters and temporary written messages and information memoranda.

It consists in certain details of construction, which will be more 'fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an exterior view of the case. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail of the ratchet M and its pawl N and showing the lug O.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient letter-box with a temporary message-receiver and information-plates for those who may arrive when there is no one in the office and to so construct the parts with relation to the box and the door thereof that they may be removed from the box when the door is opened and the actuating mechanism of the message-receiver entirely disengaged.

A is a box of any suitable size or shape having an opening in the top for the reception of letters. This box is bolted or otherwise and has a door B hinged to its front, with a look by which it may be secured in a closed position. This door extends approximately the full length of the box, so that when it is opened the whole interior of the box is clear and not' obstructed by the mechanism. Through the door is made an opening C. Beneath this opening is a table or plate D, sufticiently below the level of the door-surface to allow a sheet of paper to pass over it and beneath the opening. At one side of the opening is a drum or roller E, adapted to re ceive a roll of paper. The ends of this drum have journalpins which are supported in elastic sides F, these sides pressing upon the ends of the vdrum, so as to produce sufficient friction to prevent the drum from rotating $erlal No. 554,361. (No model.)

I too readily. From this drum the paper passes over the plate D beneath the opening and thence passes over a drum or roller G, which is also journaled in supports H upon the inside of the door. Fixed to this roller is a plate I, extending from one end to the other at a short distance from the face of the roller. The end of the paper is inserted beneath this plate, then folded upon the outside of the plate, so that when the paper begins to coil upon the drum it presses upon this folded portion and thus forms a lock to hold it firmly to the roller, while at the same time it is allowed to be as easily removed when the paper is uncoiled by simply straightening out the fold and withdrawing it from beneath the plate. The shaft of this drum projects through the standard or support upon one end and has fixed upon it a wing or crank-arm J. Through the side of the box, adjacent to the roller, is made a hole, over which is fixed a plate having a shaft K journaled in it and projecting a little way into the interior of the box. This shaft has a milled head or turning-knob upon the outside, as shown at L, and by this it may be turned. Just inside of this is a ratchetwheel M, and N is a spring-actuated pawl adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet and prevent its turning in more than one direction. Upon the inner end of the shaft or on the hub of the ratchetwheel is fixeda lug or arm 0.

When the door is closed, the drum upon which the message-receiving paper is rolled after the message is Written stands approximately in line with the ratchet-wheel shaft, and the Wing or lug. J upon the drum-shaft is then in position to be engaged by the corresponding wing or lug 0 upon the ratchetwheel shaft.

By turning the knob upon the outside the ratchet-wheel shaft is turned, and as its lug engages that of the drum the latter will also be moved forward and the paper drawn from the supply-drum over the plate beneath the opening where it is firmly supported, so that a visitor may write whatever he desires to be seen by the tenant, andif the message is long he can-advance the drum until the whole has been written. The written matter passes beneath the edge of the opening and is rolled upon the receiving-drum, the ratchet and pawl preventing its being turned back so as to be inspected by any other person.

Upon the inside of the door and in line above or below the drums is a series of vertical guides P. Between these guides plates Q are adapted to slide, and upon these plates is printed or stamped various information,

such as it is desired to give to visitors when the office is vacant, such as the time of return, place where the occupant may be found, and other information. These slides may be moved up or down independently of each other, and thus different combinations of words or figures may be made to give the required information.

When it is desired to open the box, it is only necessary to unlock it and swing the door about its hinges, when the lug of the paperreceiving drum-shaft is at once disengaged from that of the ratchet and driving-shaft, and when the door is opened and swung outwardly these parts are all removed from the interior of the box or case, thus leaving it free for inspection and removal of its contents.

The'ratchet-wheel and the engaging lug of the drum-shaft project so slightly into the box as to be comparatively unnoticed. As soon as the door is closed and 1ocked,thelugs are again in condition to engage, so that the turning of the knob will actuate the mechanism and move the message-sheet.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a letter and message receiving device, a fixed box having a door hinged to its front and adapted to be opened or closed, an opening made through said door, a plate fixed inside and sunken below the opening, rollers journaled above and below the opening, one of which carries a roll of paper, said paper passing from the roll over the plate so as to be exposed through the opening, and the second roller adapted to receive the paper after it leaves the plate and opening,a lug fixed to the shaft of the receiving drum upon one side, a shaft projecting through the side of the case carrying a ratchet-wheel, a pawl engaging said ratchet to allow the wheel and shaft to turn in one direction and to prevent its being returned, and a lug projecting from said shaft or wheel and adapted to engage the lug of the drum shaft when the door is closed and to be disengaged therefrom when the door is opened.

2. A letter message-box and information device consisting of a fixed box, a hinged door opening outwardly from the front with means for securing it in a closed position, guides and vertically moving tablets having information printed thereon and slidable in said guides upon the door, a drum journaled in elastic standards adapted to receive a roll of paper, an opening in the door, and a table sunken below said opening over which table the paper passes from the containing roll, asecond drum upon the opposite side of the opening and table, upon which the paper is rolled after the message has been written, a pawl and ratchetwheel, the shaft of which extends through the side of the box, with a knob upon the outside whereby it maybe rotated,a lug upon the inner end of said shaft, and a corresponding lug upon the drum shaft adapted to engage when the door is closed, and to be disengaged when the door is opened.

3. A letter and message receiver consisting of a fixed box adapted to receive letters having a hinged door upon the front, an opening through said door with a plate or table beneath, a containing drum upon which a coil of paper is wound, journaled between frictional pressure standards on the door, said paper passing over the plate or table from the containing drum, and a receiving drum journaled in standards upon the opposite side of the message opening, said drum having a plate extending from end to end parallel with the axis a short distance above the periphery of the drum whereby the end of the message paper can be introduced and folded over the edge of the plate so that the coiling of the paper upon said drum will retain it in position and allow it to be easily removed when the paper is uncoiled.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ISA A0 1E. SHAYV.

\Vitnesses:

W. T. SHAW, P. 11. LUDWIG. 

